PSV Eindhoven director of football Marcel Brands has told Manchester United it was “madness” to pay €95m for Antony last summer, and mentioned Leeds United and Arsenal deals as an example.
The Brazilian arrived at Old Trafford in one of the biggest moves of the summer transfer window last year after months of speculation that he could follow Erik ten Hag to the club.
After weeks of speculation a deal was eventually agreed for €95m, a figure that has been widely criticised since.
The Brazilian had impressed during his two years at Ajax following a move from Sao Paulo in July 2020, scoring 24 goals and registering 22 assists in 82 games in all competitions for the Dutch club.
He’s struggled to live up to his huge price tag at Manchester United so far, though, with just seven goals and one assists in 28 games so far.
While there have been undoubted highlights, many were expecting more from the 23-year-old given the fee that was paid for him.
Indeed that fee has come more into focus given fees paid for other players, such as PSV’s Cody Gakpo, and the man who sold the latter to Liverpool in January says everyone knows Manchester United paid over the odds.
“If you compare it with transfers that were realistic, such as that of Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City to Arsenal: that was also around that rate,” he told BNR’s The Friday Move, relayed by Voetbal Primeur.
“Those are normal amounts. I think everyone in football knows that Antony was a madness.
“I think Raphinha (Leeds United to Barcelona) is an even better player than Antony, but he left for much less.”
